The United States Senate has taken a significant step toward ending the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history by passing a crucial funding bill late Monday night. The bill, which aims to restore government operations and bring federal employees back to work, was approved in a 60-40 vote. Nearly all Republicans supported the measure, along with eight Democrats who broke ranks with their party to help secure the necessary votes. This bipartisan support was critical in surpassing the 60-vote threshold required in the Senate.
The approved funding bill will keep the government operational until the end of January, providing a temporary reprieve from the shutdown that began in October. However, before it can take effect, the bill must also pass the House of Representatives, which is currently controlled by Republicans. Once the House passes the bill, President Donald Trump has indicated his willingness to sign it into law, signaling a potential end to the shutdown within days.
The agreement emerged after intense negotiations over the weekend, during which a group of Democrats joined Republicans to forge a compromise. The goal was to reopen the government, resume essential services, and ensure that federal employees, many of whom have been working without pay or furloughed, receive the compensation they are owed. The shutdown has had severe impacts nationwide, affecting a wide array of services and millions of Americans.
In the Senate vote, seven Democratic senators—Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen—broke from their party to support the bill. They were joined by Angus King, an independent senator from Maine who caucuses with the Democrats. Only one Republican, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, sided with the majority of Democrats in opposing the measure.
Senator Susan Collins, a key Republican architect of the bill, celebrated its passage, emphasizing that reopening the government would allow federal employees to receive the compensation they have earned. The announcement, made to a nearly empty chamber, was met with applause from the senators who remained until the vote’s conclusion.
The government shutdown, which began in early October, has left about 1.4 million federal employees either furloughed without pay or working without compensation. This impasse has disrupted numerous government functions, including U.S. air travel and food assistance programs. For example, on the Monday of the bill’s passage, more than 2,400 flights across the country were canceled, while thousands more were delayed, according to airline traffic tracker FlightAware. Additionally, food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves approximately 41 million low-income Americans, have been jeopardized due to the funding lapse.
With the Senate’s approval in hand, the funding bill now moves to the House of Representatives. The House, which has been out of session and away from Washington since mid-September, was called back early by Speaker Mike Johnson following the Senate’s vote. House members are scheduled to begin discussions on the measure on Wednesday, although the length of the process remains uncertain. Republicans hold a narrow six-seat majority in the House, making every vote crucial in ensuring the bill’s passage.
The funding package extends federal funding until January 30, 2024, and includes several key provisions. It provides full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. The bill also ensures that all federal workers will be compensated for the duration of the shutdown and authorizes funding for SNAP through the next fiscal year, thereby securing food aid for millions of Americans.
A notable feature of the agreement is the provision for a vote in December on extending healthcare subsidies that are set to expire this year. This was a contentious point for many Democrats who had withheld their support for reopening the government until there were concrete commitments on healthcare. These subsidies help tens of millions of Americans afford health insurance purchased through government-run marketplaces, and their potential expiration has been a significant concern.
The negotiation involved Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, along with Angus King. Despite the compromise, some prominent Democrats expressed strong criticism of their colleagues who sided with Republicans without securing firmer healthcare guarantees. California Governor Gavin Newsom, for example, labeled the decision “pathetic,” reflecting broader frustration within the party.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also voiced disappointment, stating that the funding package “fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s healthcare crisis.” However, Senator Tim Kaine